Straight-line-motion swinging saw support



Sept. 25, 1951 M. v. TRACY STRAIGHT-LINE-MOTION swINGING sAw SUPPORT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22, 1946 N .o Hh wm Y N Q m. A QN m Y m\ Nv Sw N .wx W\ Q nm mma wm. Nm@

um wN 0o xm Nm mN QN mw Wm O mw m-\\ NN om Nw WW 0.* nm. mm. Q mw Nw vv Nm wn mm. w w wv Sept. 25, 1951 M, V, TRACY 2,569,354

STRAIGHT-LINE-MOTION SWINGING SAW SUPPORT Filed Nov. 2v2, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Eazy. 2 43 53 7/ I' 5D 5! O 448/ v O 17 7 f4 16 o 7 I O 40 23 24 21 28\ IF I r/az 22 o 4 o 3f 29 INVENTOR. MearZ Tracy BY M. V. TRACY STRAIGHT-LINE-MOTION SWINGING SAW SUPPORT sept. 25, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 22, 1946 INVENTOR. A Mearl Tracy mi van@ 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Sept. 25, 1951 M. v. TRACY STRAIGHT-LINE-MOTION SWINGING SAW SUPPORT Filed Nov. 22, 194e INVENTOR. Meal-Z U. Tracy BY Patented Sept. :l52 1951 UNITED STATES "PATENT OFFICE STRAIGHT-LINE-MOTION SWINGING SAW sUPron'r Mearl V. Tracy, Pasadena, Calif. Application November 22, 1946, Serial No. 711,789

3 claims. (o1. 143-46) This invention is directed to, and it isanobject to provide, a novel structure adapted to support an initially portable type, Yelectric handsaw l for selective guided movement relative to a work supporting table whereby to convert such a hand saw into a radial type power saw for rapid and accurate cutting operations.`

Another object of the invention is to provide 'a saw support, as above, which is arranged so that the saw is `movable transversely of the work in a path parallel to a horizontal plane, `as is desirable for cross cutting; the .support including adjustable means whereby the angle and depth of cut of thesaw may be readily and accurately predetermined.

A further object of the invention is to 'provide a saw support of the type described which mounts fthe saw for guided movement to cross cut, or

stationary for ripping, selectively; there being a lock-up device provided for rigidly securing the saw, in correct position, fora ripping operation n wherein the work moves relative to the stationary saw.

vAn additional object of the invention is to provide a support, as in thepreceding paragraphs, wherein the saw is effectively mounted for use, selectively, to cut-01T, miter, bevel cross-cut, compound miter, rip, or bevel rip. With the device vwhich is the subject of this invention, sawing operations can be accomplished, by an electric hand l saw, in a manner comparable to large and eX- pensive radial saws. For example, all roof cuts v can bemade rapidly, accurately, and uniformly.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a saw support which includes a novel, multiple arm assembly for mounting of the saw; such arm assemblyA when retractedor folded occupying a relatively small space.

A further object of the invention is to produce Y a practical saw support which will be exceedingly f eective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplishedV by` means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusual of the following specication and claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the saw support. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the sawsupport. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of the column unit and related parts.

Fig. 4 is fan enlarged fragmentary elevation, partly in section, of the outer end assembly of thesaw support, including the vertically adjustable, spindle mounted attachmentrhead unit.

Referring now moreparticularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the saw support comprises `a horizontal base I, adapted to be mounted centrally, and at the rear, on a rectangular, horizontal frame 2, which frame is adapted to be tted with a wooden work table 3 ahead of the base plate I.

A heavy-duty, non-rotatable spindle il is Xed centrally on the base plate I and upstands in rigid relation therefrom.

A column unit, indicated generally at l5, is supported by the base plate I, and is mounted in connection with the spindle 4 in surrounding rotatably adjustable relation; such column unit being constructed as follows:

A bottom disc E is seated on the base plate I and journaled for rotation about the lower end portion of the fixed spindle 4, while a top disc there being a locking screw I0 extending through the cap 9 and threading into the spindle 4. See Fig.`3. The head. of the locking screw IU bears against the top of the cap 9, and when said screw is tightened, the column unit 5 is engaged with suflicient friction against the base plate I to prevent rotation of said column. A cross handle I! lthrough the head of the locking screw ID facilitates tightening or loosening of such screw.

A pin I2 projects from the clamping cap 9 into a matching bore I 3 in the upper end of the spindle 4 parallel to the axis of the latter; such v9 and said spindle,

pin preventing relative rotation between the cap The reason for the above arrangement resides in the fact that the clampingY cap 9 carries a transparent annular dial it having radial`hair lines I5 (Fig. l) thereon adapted to read on a circular, angle scale disc I6 Xed 'on the top disc 'I directly under the dial I. This assembly of the dial I4, and angle scale disc I6,

' makes possible the setting of the column unit accurately in any pre-selected position of rotative adjustment. The advantage of this will hereinafter appear.

, .An articulated supporting arm assembly, indicated generally at I1, is mounted in connection with the spindle 4 and projects forwardly therefrom; said supporting arm assembly I1 comprising the following:

An inner supporting arm I8 is fixed in connection with, and projects forwardly from, a vertical-axis bearing sleeve I9 turnable about the spindle 4 intermediate its ends, and said bearing sleeve I9 is carried between collars 20 on said spindle.

.An outer supporting arm"2I 'pirojectsforwardly and outwardly beyond the outer end .of said inner supporting arm I8; adjacent ends of the arms I8 and 2l being secured together iby a vertical pivot arrangement,. includingapivot pin 22. As shown, the arms I8 'and 2Iare1disposed in angular relationship to each dther'in a horizontal plane, and in operationof thezsawsupport never reach dead-center.

At its outer end the supporting Varm 2I 'is fitted with a vertical-axis bearing :sleeve 23, through which a spindle 24 engages in vertically adjustable relation.

'At its lower end the spindle 24 Vcarries .an attachment head unit, indicated generally at 25; saideattachment head unit being in the form of a `blocls 'through which a reduced diameter end portion of the spindle 24=projects. A locking bolt 2 secures the block 26 to the spindle 4 .in normally rigid but rotatably adjustable relation. A radial pin 28 projects outwardly from the spin- .dle 24 directly above the block-26, and spaced stops'29 limit the extent to which the block .2E may be rotatably adjusted in a horizontal plane.

In offset relation to the spindle 24, the block 26 includes a transverse bore 3,.and said block is'split,V` as at- 3l, in communication with such.

bore; the split portion of the block being connected by a clamping bolt 32. The bore 30..is adapted for'the reception, in rotatablyadjustable relation, of a stub shaft-33 v(Fig. 2) .of a

connector or adapter (not otherwise shown) which is adapted to secure an electric. hand saw to the atachment head unit25. It willbe. seen `that by-rotatable adjustment of the stub shaft of` the spindle 24,-to which it is rigidly connected by a cap screw 3l. Above the block 36 the screw `34 is formed as a crank 38. Upon rotation, manually, of the crank33 in one direction or the other, the screw 34 either lowers or raises relative to the nut35, accomplishing a corresponding movement of the spindle 24, and adjustment of the depth of cut of the saw mounted lin connection with the attachment head unit 25.

rEhe articulated supporting-'arm vassembly I1 is the means employed to maintain the attachment head unit 26, and the supported'electric hand saw, for movement in a horizontal'plane, transversely relative to the work table 3. -YHowever, the articulated supporting arm :assembly I1 .does not function to maintain any predetermined .line of cut; i. e. a straight line of cut without lateral deflection, and to accomplish `this a. separate articulated guiding arm assembly is .pro-

vided, as indicated generally.- atl39. The articu- 4latedsupporting arm assembly Ilworks on ver- Inter- ,I

,4 tical axes, as described, whereas the guiding arm assembly 39, which is disposed above the assembly I'I, works on horizontal axes, and is constructed as follows:

Intermediate its ends the post 8 is provided with a fixed, horizontal cross shaft 40 projecting laterally on opposite sides of the column. unit 5. A pair of parallel, forwardly and upwardly in'clined arms4Inare ttedfattheir'rear or inner v ends, with bearing sleeves 42 turnably mounted on opposite end portions of the cross shaft 40, fbut are maintained against axial shifting therealong (A cross shaft 43 is journaled in connec- -.tion' with,'an'dextends between, bearing sleeves 44 on the outer ends of the arms 4I. A central arm 45V .is'iitted at its inner end, with an elongated bearing sleeve 46 Xed on the cross shaft U43 between the bearing sleeves 44; the central .arm'lliiiextending forwardly at a downward incline. At its forward or free end the central arm-45 includes .atranverse bearing sleeve 41 having yapivot .pin 48 journaled therein, but

maintained .against axial displacement.

Atthe end adjacent the vertical spindle 24 'the pivot pi-n 48.1isprovided with a right-angle bracket n49, one leg of which is secured between'the block 3B and the upper end of the spindle V24. 1n this manner the outer endcfthe articulated guidingarm assembly 39 is connected to the spindle 24 whereby to maintain said spindle, the attachment fhead, and asupported saw, for'guid- -ed straight Vline movement without restricting free swinging of said Ysaw along such line,y and which swinging Vis possible by reason of the articulaftion or hinging action of the arm assemblies I 1.and 39.

The guiding arm assembly 39. is so proportioned that the arms 4I and 45 always converge .upwardly, and Ynever lower or unfold to a full dead-center relationship.

-A rel'ativelyvlight,weight .helical tension spring 50 is connected between the outer end of pivot pin 48, and one of the arms 4I intermediatethe ends of. thelatter; said spring tending to maintain theV entire device in balance for ease of t0 and'fromovement, manually, of the electric hand saw, .as supported from the attachment head unit 25.

A rod 5I 'extends between the central arm `45 and one of the arms 4I through heads 52 mounted .on said arms. At opposite ends the rod'5I carries stop nuts 53, and a compression spring 54 surroundsthe rod between the outer end one of said nuts 53 and the adjacent heads 52; this `ar rangement forming a cushioned bumper or stop arrangement to limit outward unfolding motion of the device.

VUnder certain working conditions it is desired to. lock the rod 5I in theheads 52, and this'is accomplished by locking screws 55.

For cross cutting operations thev work is disposed on the table 3, and the angle of cut'adjusted as follows: Y

For right-angle cuts the column unit 5 is rotatably adjusted about the spindle 4 so that the supported electric hand Vsaw Vtraverses a corre- .sponding path relative to the work on-table 3; Vthis setting being accomplished through the to the work, but also for 45 and 90 miter cuts.

For other non-right angle miter cuts, such as are used in roof framing, the column unit 5 may be accurately adjusted so that the saw will traverse the desired cutting path, in the following manner:

By loosening the locking screw I0, and releasing the latch 56, the column unit 5, including the post 8, may be turned `about the spindle 4 to any selective position of rotative adjustment, and the angle is predetermined by reading the hair lines of transparent dial I4 on the angle scale disc I6. When the correct angle of adjustment is obtained, the locking screw I is tightened, which xes the column unit against rotation, and thus maintains the articulated guiding arm assembly 39 in position so that the supported hand saw will tranverse the aforesaid predetermined path.

When the device has been set to any given working angle, the operator merely grasps the handle, which is normally on the supported electric hand saw, and advances such saw to cut through the work; the articulated arm assemblies I'l and 39 supporting and guiding the saw, respectively, in the desired path.

During all cross cutting operations the work remains stationary on the work table 3, and the saw traverses the work, but for ripping operations the articulated arm assemblies I1 and 33 are locked up against articulating lmotion by setting up the locking screws 55 in the heads 52. The spindle 24 is then held rigid against hori- Zontal motion, and the attachment head unit 25 is adjusted to a position such that the saw is set to rip work advanced manually over the table 3 in a direction from side to side of the same. Straight, as well as bevel, ripping can be accomplished, dependent upon the adjusted position of the saw suspended from the attachment head unit 25.

With the described saw support, a conventional portable electric hand saw can be mechanically supported and guided for movement, in

the manner of a radial saw, to accomplish cuts rapidly, uniformly, and accurately.

The saw support is relatively simple in its construction, works easily, is of light-weight so that it can be easily transported from job to job, and

when the arm assemblies are folded, occupies a relatively small space. n

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fullls the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as deiined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired.

1. A Vtool support comprising a base, a column unit upstanding from the base, an articulated supporting arm assembly mounted adjacent the column unit and projecting for articulation in a horizontal plane, an articulated guiding arm assembly mounted on the column and projecting in generally the same direction as the supporting arm assembly and spaced vertically of the latter, a tool attachment unit, such unit including a base and a vertically disposed spindle upstanding from the base, the outer end of the supporting arm assembly being turnably mounted about said spindle, a horizontal pivot pin, the outer end of the guide assembly being turnably mounted about said pivot pin, clamping means interposed between the pivot pin and the spindle and eiective to maintain the pivot pin rigid with respect to the spindle, and means to adjust the spindle vertically with respect to the supporting arm assembly.

2. A tool support as in claim 1 in which said last named means comprises a screw turnably mounted on the spindle, and a nut on the outer end of the supporting arm assembly, the screw being threaded through the nut.

3. A tool support as in claim 1 in which the clamping means between the pivot and the spindle includes an angle bracket having its sides connected with the adjacent ends of the pivot pin and spindle, respectively.

MEARL V. TRACY.

` REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,083,160 Villinger Dec. 30, 1913 1,449,317 Fager Mar. 20, 1923 1,707,764 Mattison Apr. 2, 1929 1,733,518 Snover Oct. 29, 1929 1,832,101 Decker Nov. 17, 1931 1,846,295 Wilderson Feb. 23, 1932 1,846,641 Hedgpeth Feb. 23, 1932 2,007,563 De Koning July 9, 1935 2,326,416 Tracy Aug. 10, 1943 2,389,296 Crane Nov. 20, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 219,584 Great Britain July 31, 1924 

